2 injured babies found tied down, with no heat and had not eaten for 2 days, officials say

 A live-in boyfriend has been charged with child cruelty after 1 and 2 year old babies were found with injuries, tied up in a cold apartment and had not eaten for 2 days, officials in Augusta say.

The incident was discovered on Monday, when Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Alpine Villas, an apartment complex located at 3148 Alpine Drive, in reference to a child welfare check.

When deputies arrived at 3 pm, they were met with other deputies who had arrived about an hour earlier.

The deputies were dispatched after someone called and said they could hear babies crying in the apartment.

One of the first deputies on the scene knocked on the door, but there was reportedly no answer. They said “everything seemed to be normal and he did not observe or hear anything suspicious”.

The property manager was contacted and let deputies into the apartment so they could check to make sure no children were left in the apartment by themselves. They noticed it was very cool in the apartment, according to the incident report.

One of the deputies looked at the apartment’s thermostat and it was set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, an incident report said.

 That deputy also found two small children, ages 1 and 2, in a back room. Both children were reportedly crying, were both only wearing a diaper, and both were wearing wet socks.

 The deputy reported that both children had “Vienna sausages sitting in their laps as if someone tried to leave the children with food.”

 The 1-year-old child was strapped into a stroller and the 2-year-old was strapped into a high chair, according to authorities.

 The deputy reported that “they were both strapped so tight that the straps from both the stroller and high chair caused visible injuries to the children”. The deputy reported that he used a knife to cut the children free “because the straps could not be undone”.

The deputy said both children appeared to be hungry, and both children seemed to be suffering from malnutrition.

He reported he found some dry clothes in the children’s room and tried to cloth the children to the best of his ability. He then said he “brought both of the children into the living room, and placed cereal in bowls so they could eat”.

The children reportedly ate cereal, and drank water as if they had not eaten for days. The deputy  then notified the Department of Family and Child Services (DFACS) immediately.

During the investigation it was discovered that the two people on the lease for the apartment had been living there for about 1 year. They were identified as 21-year-old China Harris, and 23-year-old David Bradley, Jr.

A second deputy reported he found used diapers sitting in a pile on the floor, in the children’s room.

There also was apparently not any clean clothing for the children, and all of it was on the floor and it smelled like urine, deputies said.

The deputy said he saw a large amount of liquid in the bottom of the playpen, and it appeared to be urine but he could not be sure.

A deputy also reported that there wasn’t any food in the residence that a child could eat, and the counters and floor in the kitchen was sticky. There were reportedly used liquor bottles on a small table that still had a small amount of liquor inside of them, and they were in reach of both of the children.

Around 4 p.m. a DFACS representative arrived and she took the children into custody.

During the investigation, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Gold Cross EMT’s arrived on scene to examine at both of the children. After medically evaluating both children, EMT’s noticed what appeared to be burn marks on the 1-year-old child’s hands and face.

They also noticed what also appeared to be burn marks on the 2-year-old child’s hands, face, and penis.

 The EMT’s also said the 2-year-old appeared to be suffering from a dislocated shoulder that healed on its own, and that the child also had bruising around his torso area that indicated someone grabbed him forcefully around his mid-section.

EMT’s also said that both children were extremely dehydrated, and they appeared that they had not eaten anything for at least 2 days. After evaluating the children. The children were then taken to Georgia Regents Medical Center for further medical evaluation.

The DFACS representative told deputies she had the mother’s information and that they had an open case file against her (Harris). The DFACS representative reportedly got in touch with Harris and asked her to return to the apartment because the children had been taken into DFACS custody.

Harris arrived at the apartment and she was detained for questioning.

During the investigation, an investigator was able to get in contact with Bradley, who is reportedly Harris’ live-in boyfriend.

Bradley was told to come back to the apartment so he could talk to him. Once Bradley arrived on the scene, he was taken into custody for questioning.

Pictures of the apartment, as well as pictures of the children’s injuries, were taken for evidence.

After further questioning, Bradley with two counts of Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree. At this time, Harris has not been charged.